Mom's the Word
Mom's the Word
May 10 — 2024
Words // Anka Martin
Growing up in isolated South Africa I’ve always lived a bit of an unconventional life – Holidays were never spent at the “normal” kind of places one would visit back then; if we were staying close to home we would go camping, but usually holidays were a bit more exotic: a sailing trip around Turkey and Greece, where my brother and I would spend hours looking for treasures in the souks and bazaars, roaming foreign ports and learning how to haggle and deal. My parents dragged us through various European cities, showing us how different people lived and how to embrace and respect the different cultures we encountered. I didn’t realize it then, but all these adventures and memories would shape me into who I am now and subsequently, the mother I am now.
Fast forward twenty years, to when racing bikes became my main obsession, traveling the world, bouncing from place to place. I continued to live out my seemingly “unconventional” life, now driven by my passion for bikes rather than my parents yearning for vacation and travel. Motherhood, though I had given it some thought, was certainly not at the forefront of my mind. Sven and I worried that having a baby would cramp our nomadic lifestyle. It wasn’t until we lost both of Sven’s parents that we became serious about having a baby, and, as it turns out, getting pregnant isn’t as easy as everyone tells you when you are younger.
My professional racing career spanned more than two decades. By the time I retired and was “ready” to have a baby, I was already considered “advanced maternal age” (35 years and older). Of course, never having conceded to traditional norms, this didn’t deter us. So, I started IVF when I was 45, had Ziggy at 46, and am now 47 and absolutely loving the mom life. While I’m not exactly a young mom, what I can say for certain is that I am far more patient and present now than I would have been 10 years ago.
Before having Ziggy, we lived a pretty nomadic and different kind of life, one that sounds and looks way more glamorous on the highlight reel of Instagram than what it was in reality. We usually split our “off-season” time between South Africa (where our family is) and New Zealand, and then the rest of the year we are based in Italy for Sven’s photography work and my Housemartin Trips. For those six months, it’s mostly traveling for back-to-back events, hotels, airbnbs, vans, airports, and planes. After all my years of international racing and travel I thought I was a bit of a travel logistics ace, but it turns out that planning for the needs of a baby across three continents is a whole different ball game.
We’ve got prams (strollers) stashed all over, and four different car seats (she hates them all) to fit cars in three countries. We have duplicate teddies, books, and toys that we leave in various locations, just to lessen the load. My travel bag used to be filled with all my favs and heaps of shoes and bike kit, but lately consists of teething meds, snot suckers, suppositories, nappies, wet wipes, and diaper cream. Times sure have changed.
Yes, it’s hard, but I still wouldn’t change this lifestyle for anything. People often ask or wonder why we would travel with a baby. While she may not remember many of the details, I do believe that these experiences will subconsciously shape her future. One of our greatest moments as a family happened on our recent return trip to New Zealand. After Sven wrapped up his Crankworx shooting Ziggy got to experience her first bit of proper mountain bike single track amongst the lush green ferns and trees in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest. She loved every second of it, screaming “wheeeeee” on every corner and downhill, perched up on top tube in her Thule seat. Sharing our love for nature and bikes with her is the best feeling ever. My greatest hope is that she too will love the outdoors. I have my parents to thank for instilling this adventurous spirit in me as a young child, for that, I am so very thankful. My advice to you is to do the things you want to, slog the gear, take the bikes, book those tickets, get out there, and experience the world and live life to its fullest in all its beautiful and unconventional ways.
All right then, got to run, Ziggy’s off and I’m struggling to keep up with her these days.
Peace out,
Anka
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